Today we’d like to introduce you to Caroline Haskins.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Caroline. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in New Jersey and took many singing and dancing lessons when I was young. I was in my first production of a musical when I was ten, which is where it all began! I was fortunate to live near the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ and became very involved with the musical theatre education programs they offered. I am very fortunate to have incredibly supportive parents who drove me to every audition, rehearsal, and class, and who travel out to California to see every performance. They always encourage me to work hard at everything I do, and they’re the reason I have been able to continue my education and career in the arts. After auditioning for many programs, I was accepted into the University of Southern California’s Bachelor of Fine Arts Acting program and moved to the city of my dreams to pursue what I love.
Throughout my time in the BFA program at USC, I was in 7-8 classes a semester, performed in four main stage shows, and studied with an incredible selection of professors who are leaders in their fields. My education at USC was well rounded, academic, and creative; all things that were priorities for me in choosing a program to attend. After my senior showcase, I started working with the Buchwald and CESD agencies. They have both been incredibly supportive of my artistic career, and I am very grateful to have such a hardworking team. I was also cast in a musical production at the Wallis Annenberg Theatre in partnership with Stephen Schwartz right before my graduation.
Now, I am working at a car dealership to support myself while auditioning and taking more acting classes at The Playhouse West to continue my education. Who knows what is next, but I am in no rush; the right opportunities will come at the right time and I am prepared to meet them!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think pursuing a career in performance is easy for anyone. One of the things I love about living in Los Angeles is that so many people have ties to the entertainment industry and work in creative fields. It is inspiring to live surrounded by artists who are sharing their stories through different mediums. I remind myself that there are other artists who struggle to pursue what they love full time, I’m not alone! It’s definitely challenging to deal with rejection and being out of work.
It’s important to keep the creative muscle practiced and ready to go, just like an athlete would train out of season. But you never know when the next “season” is coming up, so you always have to be ready and in shape with your craft, even if there is more downtime in between projects than you’re used to. I’ve learned to stay positive and keep working hard. All the obstacles and challenges are part of what makes the artistic journey so worthwhile.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I grew up performing mostly in musical theatre, so singing and dancing have always been a huge part of my identity as an artist. In college, I performed only in plays, but it was such a treat to get to sing a song in a show. Then my first job out of college was in a musical, so I got to go back to my roots! Now I get so excited when a song is required at an audition.
Singing is one of my favorite things to do, and I have been studying voice for about 12 years; it’s great when I can add it into my on-screen work! Once I started acting on screen, I found a real love for comedy. I think I have good comedic timing, and I’ve written a lot of comedic scenes that I shot with friends, and for a web series project I worked on; you can find some clips on my website! I love exploring versatile characters, but quirky comedic roles always feel like home to me.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I think my work ethic is the characteristic that most contributes to my success. I love what I do, and I put 110% into it every chance I get. I take professionalism very seriously; I show up early, I’m memorized before the deadline, and I’ve done my research. My program at USC taught me a lot about being a professional actor, and I made mistakes along the way that helped me learn.
Sometimes you have to fall to get back up and try again and try better. Launching into a professional career, I have a standard for myself. I am early on deadlines for self-tapes, I show up to auditions prepared with my best foot forward, and I practice my craft in class and rehearsals. I’m sure you’ve heard when you love what you do, it never feels like work. Preparation and hard work are part of the job, and I love every second!
Contact Info:
- Website: carolinehaskins.com
- Instagram: @carolineehaskins
Image Credit:
Paola Toledo
Craig Schwartz
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